The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 30, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1997
Gerhard Mueller, Wappingers Falls, NY (US);
Toshiaki Kirihata, Wappingers Falls, NY (US);
Hing Wong, Los Altos, CA (US);
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a semiconductor memory having a hierarchical bit line and/or word line architecture. In one embodiment, a memory having a hierarchical bit line architecture, particularly suitable for cells smaller than 8F.sup.2, includes a master bit line pair in each column, including first and second master bit lines with portions vertically spaced from one another. The first and second master bit lines twist with respect to one another in the vertical direction such that the first master bit line alternately overlies and underlies the second master bit line. A plurality of local bit line pairs in each column are coupled to memory cells, with at least one of the local bit lines coupled to a master bit line. In other embodiments, hierarchical word line configurations are disclosed including master word lines, sub-master word lines, and local word lines, electrically interconnected to one another via either switches, electrical contacts, or electrical circuits.